March is Women’s History Month, and we’d like to celebrate the legacies of several local women – in coloring book style, of course. To download the full coloring book put together by the museum, please find it here.










March is Women’s History Month, and we’d like to celebrate the legacies of several local women – in coloring book style, of course. To download the full coloring book put together by the museum, please find it here.
As part of Women’s History Month, we would like to share 11 videos made by the museum that tell stories far and wide of women who have helped make Fort Collins such a unique place.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS FORT COLLINS STORIES STARTS WITH HAITTIE MCDANIEL, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With The Wind. She lived in Fort Collins from 1901 until 1903.
FORT COLLINS NATIVE ISABELLE KNOPF worked at Heart Mountain Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. As a single mother, she had various jobs before having a long career with the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
POLLY BRINKHOFF was an artist and long-time resident of Skin Gulch off Poudre Canyon. She led quite an amazing life and has contributed to Colorado lore.
Click here to download the printable Polly Brinkhoff Charm.
Other videos in this series feature the life and stories of:
Women of Fort Collins: Carmen Johnson
This Episode: Carmen Johnson
Carmen Johnson spent twenty-three years as Larimer County’s Home Demonstration agent for the Extension Service. This presentation talks about her life and just what home demonstration was.
Ready for more? You can learn about other amazing people of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado in the Archive at FCMoD! Visit fcmod.org/research for more information.
Continue ReadingThis Episode: Betty Herrmann
Betty Herrmann left a legacy at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery through her work, donations, and the impact she had on the people there.
Ready for more? You can learn about other amazing people of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado in the Archive at FCMoD! Visit fcmod.org/research for more information.
Continue ReadingThis Episode: Elfreda Stebbins
Elfreda Stebbins, graduate of the library school at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, became our city’s first librarian in 1903. Throughout her 28-year career, she served as a force for literacy and culture in Fort Collins.
Ready for more? You can learn about other amazing people of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado in the Archive at FCMoD! Visit fcmod.org/research for more information.
Continue ReadingThis Episode: Isabelle Knopf
Fort Collins native Isabelle Knopf worked at Heart Mountain Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. As a single mother, she had various jobs before having a long career with the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Ready for more? You can learn about other amazing people of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado in the Archive at FCMoD! Visit fcmod.org/research for more information.
Continue ReadingWomen of Fort Collins: Virginia Corbett
Get inspired!
For the 4th year in a row, the Collections and Archives staff of Fort Collins Museum of Discovery are sharing stories and photographs of notable Fort Collins women. Discover the paths of many local luminaries with inspirational video presentations full of historic images, audio recordings, and fascinating information!
This Episode: Virginia Corbett
Virginia Corbett came to Colorado Agricultural College in 1900 to teach literature and history. She was a passionate advocate for college women for over 30 years and taught briefly at Ginling College, Nanjing, China in the 1920s.
Ready for more? You can learn about other amazing people of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado in the Archive at FCMoD! Visit fcmod.org/research for more information.
Continue ReadingPost written by Linda Moore, Curator of Collections
Woman working to get the right to vote in the 19th and early 20th centuries faced a tricky problem: how could they influence the vote to get the vote without the vote? Savvy suffragettes recognized that optics matter, and set out to shape the images of their movement to convey its strength. At the same time, many activists felt they had to be careful to avoid any appearance that could be dismissed as emotionally unstable, hysterical, or even unwomanly.
The suffragette sash, which appeared first in Britain and was quickly adopted by the American suffragist movement, seemed to have walked that line, and stands out today as emblematic of the movement. Sashes bore the traditional colors of the American National Woman’s Party: purple for loyalty and unswerving steadfastness to a cause, white for purity, and gold as the color of light and life “as the torch that guides our purpose, pure and unswerving”.
Here is your chance to express you own “unswerving” devotion to the right to vote: use these instructions and your own creativity to create a sash you’ll be proud to wear!
Materials
To make stripes in the traditional white, purple, and gold you will need 2 strips of each that are the length you want your sash to stretch, from your shoulder across your body –from 34 to about 40 inches. If you are buying fabric by the yard, the most economical way to get that is to buy:
You’ll also need:
Instructions:
(P.S. Don’t forget to vote before 7:00pm on November 3, 2020!)
Continue ReadingPost written by Archive & Collections team.
Get Inspired!
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we’re highlighting the paths of local women in Fort Collins history with a series of video presentations created by the Archive & Collections staff at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Today Curator of Collections Linda Moore will present on Polly Brinkhoff, artist and long-time resident of Skin Gulch off Poudre Canyon.
After you have learned about Polly Brinkhoff, be sure to create your very own shrink-plastic charm.
Click here to download the printable Polly Brinkhoff Charm.
Want to download the charm bracelet directions? Click here for a handy PDF!
Follow along with our Daily Discovery! Click here for all activities that you can do at home.
Educational opportunities like this are supported in part by Fort Fund.
Post written by Archive & Collections team.
Get Inspired!
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we’re highlighting the paths of local women in Fort Collins history with a series of video presentations created by the Archive & Collections staff at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Today Museum Collections Assistant Morgan Wilson will speak about Elizabeth Coy, first woman to graduate from a Colorado institute of higher education.
After you have learned about Elizabeth Coy, be sure to create your very own shrink-plastic charm.
Click here to download the printable Elizabeth Coy Charm.
Want to download the charm bracelet directions? Click here for a handy PDF!
Follow along with our Daily Discovery! Click here for all activities that you can do at home.
Educational opportunities like this are supported in part by Fort Fund.